3 Ways to Minimize the Financial Implications of Your Arrest

After your arrest, it often feels like a million different thoughts are running through your head. One concern that you might have is the financial implications of your arrest. Even if you are found not guilty, the arrest can negatively impact your finances. Here are a few steps you can take to minimize the financial effects of an arrest.

Get Out of Jail As Soon As Possible

The first thing you should do is post bail and get out of jail as soon as you can. You may utilize the services of a bail bondsman. If you use a bail bondsman, you only have to pay a small portion of your bail (usually 10 percent). Another bonus of using a bail bondsman rather than your savings or credit card is that this saves your financial resources for future expenses.
There are a few reasons that you should post bail and get out jail. The longer that you stay in jail, the higher the likelihood that your arrest will have a negative impact on your career. Many jobs offer a limited amount of paid time off; if you are in jail, you cannot work and if you are out of paid time off, this means no paycheck. This is extremely problematic considering that most workers live paycheck to paycheck.
Some employers penalize workers for missing their shifts, regardless of the cause. Workers who miss too many days automatically lose their jobs. If you already have a few absences, it only takes a few days in jail to possibly put your job in jeopardy.
You also have to take into account the chores and errands that you do to help keep your household running smoothly. If you are responsible for caring for your children during the evening hours so that your spouse can work or attend school, this means that your spouse will have to pay someone else to handle the tasks that you normally handle.

Consider Hiring an Experienced Lawyer

Some believe that they cannot afford the services of an experienced lawyer. However, it is important to look at the long-term picture rather than the short-term costs associated with hiring a lawyer.
An experienced lawyer can help you plead your charges down. If you are ultimately convicted of the charges, you want the charges to be as minor as possible, especially if your original charges were felonies. Pleading a felony down to a misdemeanor is one way to possibly lessen the amount of time that you spend in jail and any fines that you have to pay.
In the event that you incur additional convictions in the future, having misdemeanors on your record rather than felonies will also lessen the severity of your future sentencing. Some employers may be willing to overlook a misdemeanor, but many take a harder stance in regards to felony convictions.

Be Careful Who You Talk to About Your Arrest

Try to keep the details of your arrest as confidential as possible. If word gets out about your arrest, people will easily be able to twist the truth and add their own details. This can have severe ramifications on multiple aspects of your life, including your career and future earning potential.
For example, assume that your arrest is for driving under the influence (DUI). Fortunately, you do not have to drive to perform your job, and your lawyer can likely plead the charge down to something less severe. You make the mistake of venting to a co-worker, and word gets out about your arrest.
This can cause your superiors and your co-workers to view you in a negative light, harming your future chances of securing a promotion or a raise.
An arrest can have severe ramifications on both your short- and long-term financial standing, but by following these three steps, you can help to minimize these consequences.
Need to post bail as soon as possible? Contact Absolute Bail Bonds today to begin the bail process.